Rob Liefeld, a.k.a. The World’s Worst Comic Book Artist, posted the cover of Brad Meltzer and Ed Benes’ upcoming Justice League of America #1 (due out this week) on his forum last night. Before I go any further, I’d just like to say how happy I am that Liefeld doesn’t actually have anything to do with this book…otherwise we’d be looking at something like this.

Anyhow, the team lineup (click the first pic above for a larger view) features a number of interesting choices. Aside from the obvious Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, we get former JLA’ers Green Lantern (Hal Jordan), Black Canary, Red Tornado, Vixen, and Hawkgirl; and first-time Leaguers Arsenal (looking suspiciously like Red Arrow from Mark Waid’s beloved Kingdom Come miniseries) and Black Lightning.

I’m kind of shocked that former Green Arrow sidekick (and Teen Titans founder) Arsenal made the lineup in lieu of the Green Arrow himself, especially considering that JLA writer Brad Meltzer is well-known in comic circles for his previous usage of the character. And Black Lightning…well, as you can see from the other cover up there, he didn’t take no damn membership offers from no jive JLA turkeys back in 1979, but he’s apparently had a change of heart.

Astute comic readers will also note that every member represents a particular era or team in the DC universe: The Silver Age (Green Lantern), the Satellite era (Red Tornado), Justice League Detroit (Vixen), the JSA (Hawkgirl), Teen Titans (Arsenal), Outsiders (Black Lightning), and Justice League International/Birds of Prey (Black Canary). Hopefully these representations amount to more than just mere symbolism.

I hear tell an eleventh member will sign on at some point during Meltzer’s 14-issue run, with someone on the team acting as the token rookie. Since I doubt anyone considers anyone in the aforementioned lineup a rookie when it comes to superheroics, I can only assume that this eleventh mystery member fits the bill. My money’s on Steel (Natasha Irons), since she’s got a prominent role in DC’s weekly 52 series (I’m predicting her father John Henry Irons, the current Steel, eats it before 52 ends…with Natasha fully assuming his mantle). I’ll still hold out hope for Captain Boomerang or Firestorm, though.

Or maybe Bat-Mite.